Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialHigh-Fidelity Simulation Nurse Training Reduces Unplanned Interruption of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Sessions in Critically Ill Patients: The SimHeR Randomized Controlled Trial.
Although continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is common, unplanned interruptions (UI) often limit its usefulness. In many units, nurses are responsible for CRRT management. We hypothesized that a nurse training program based on high-fidelity simulation would reduce the rate of interrupted sessions. ⋯ High-fidelity simulation nurse training reduced the rate of UI of CRRT sessions and the need for nurses to request assistance. This intervention may be particularly useful in the context of frequent nursing staff turnover.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2019
Meta AnalysisKetamine Infusions for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Why?
Although often used to manage chronic pain acutely, the longer-term benefits of ketamine infusions remain uncertain. Despite this there has been significant growth in using ketamine infusions to treat chronic pain, rationalised by ketamine’s expected effect to reduce central sensitisation.
What?
This meta-analysis identified a small benefit for up to two weeks after a ketamine infusion, although little evidence of longer-term benefit. There appears to be a dose-response effect, suggesting greater efficacy with high-dose ketamine infusions.
The underlying problem...
Most research on ketamine infusions focuses on perioperative analgesia. Trials invetsigating ketamine infusions for chronic pain are universally small, lack standardisation and are often low quality.
This meta-analysis unfortunately does not add clarity to the question of whether ketamine infusions have long-term benefit in chronic pain syndromes. Clinicians will continue to need to judge indication on a case-by-case basis...
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2019
ReviewSafety of Beach Chair Position Shoulder Surgery: A Review of the Current Literature.
Although uncommon, severe neurological events have been reported in patients undergoing shoulder surgery in the beach chair position. The presumed etiology of central nervous system injury is hypotension and subsequent cerebral hypoperfusion that occurs after alterations in positioning under general anesthesia. Most clinical trials have demonstrated that beach chair positioning results in reductions in regional brain oxygenation, cerebral blood flow, and jugular bulb oxygenation, as well as impairment in cerebral autoregulation and electroencephalographic/processed electroencephalographic variables. Further studies are needed to define the incidence of adverse neurological adverse events in the beach chair position, identify the best intraoperative neurological monitors that are predictive of neurocognitive outcomes, the lowest "safe" acceptable blood pressure during surgery for individual patients, and the optimal interventions to treat intraoperative hypotension.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2019
Use of Hydroxocobalamin (Vitamin B12a) in Patients With Vasopressor Refractory Hypotension After Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Case Series.
Vitamin B12a (hydroxocobalamin) may be beneficial in managing vasoplegic syndrome following cardiopulmonary bypass.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study"Modified Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning" Short-Axis, Out-of-Plane, Ultrasound-Guided Radial Artery Cannulation in Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Radial artery cannulation is extremely challenging in neonatal patients. Herein, we compared the success rate of the modified dynamic needle tip positioning short-axis, out-of-plane, ultrasound-guided technique with that of the traditional palpation technique in neonatal radial artery cannulation. ⋯ Modified dynamic needle tip positioning short-axis, out-of-plane, ultrasound-guided radial artery cannulation in neonates improves the first-attempt and total success rates and decreases the total procedural time and incidence of cannulation-related complications.